Effect of AMPK Expression Regulation on Biological Behavior and Metabolic Reprogramming in Cervical Cancer Cells

Background As a key energy metabolism regulator, AMPK is involved in multiple malignancies.This study aimed to explore AMPK's role in cervical cancer metabolic reprogramming.Methods RNA interference modulated AMPK expression in SiHa cells.Quantitative RT-PCR, CCK-8, wound healing, Transwell, flow cytometry, Western blot, targeted metabolomics, and transmission electron microscopy were used to assess cell behavior, protein expression, metabolism, and ultrastructure.Results Knockdown of AMPK expression promotes cell proliferation, and with the prolongation of time, its proliferation-promoting effect gradually strengthens.Meanwhile, it enhances cell migration (with a 45.3% increase, p < 0.001) and invasion (with a 38.7% increase, p < 0.001), and reduces the apoptosis rate (with a 32.6% decrease, p < 0.01).AMPK-regulated cells exhibited enhanced proliferative and invasive capacities compared to control cells.Electron microscopic analysis revealed substantial AMPK-mediated alterations in cellular morphology and apoptosis-associated ultrastructures.Metabolomic profiling further corroborated AMPK inhibition-induced metabolic alterations, notably in linoleic acid metabolism (2.3-fold upregulation, p < 0.001) and niacin/nicotinamide metabolic pathways (1.8-fold downregulation, p < 0.01).Conclusions This study systematically clarified AMPK's regulatory role in cervical cancer cell metabolic reprogramming, affecting proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis.Findings advance understanding of cervical cancer mechanisms and support AMPK-targeted therapies.